Bed panel with torsion pin hinge

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for coupling a vehicle body panel partition for pivotal movement between an upright and a retracted position. A mounting includes hinge sets formed from two hinge leafs, each hinge leaf being used to retain one of the alternate ends of the torsion rod pin extending through aligned pivot portions on each pin leaf. Preferably, each hinge set is integrally formed with the torsion pin by retainers holding ends of the torsion pin with respect to each of the leafs. In the preferred embodiment, a return bent end of the torsion pin is received in an extended support member while the other end is retained in a returned bent portion of the second leaf, each end extending in a radial direction aligned at an angle to the direction of the other end.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle compartment partition and the hinge assembly associated with the partition that includes a torsion rod as the hinge pin journaled within the hinge leafs as well as a method for assembling the hinge.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The construction of a movable vehicle partitioning panel, for example, a panel at the rear of the passenger compartment of a pickup truck style body type, raises challenges for vehicle manufacturers. The interior as well as the exterior surfaces must be compatible with the adjacent interior compartment and exterior compartments of the vehicle. In addition, the mounting mechanism may be concealed for aesthetic purposes, but the panel must be stable in upright and lowered positions. As a result, any attempt to make the panel displaceable, for example, a pivot axis mounting, preferably one that includes lift assist, must be compactly packaged without affecting the aesthetic appearance or the functionality of the panel. For example, previously known mechanisms for displacing or removing vehicle body partitions, such as pickup truck style tailgates, may occupy substantial spaces in the adjacent rear body panels of the vehicle, and such space is not available near the front of the bed where other body panel features such as door supports, glass supports, hinge supports and lock supports must be aesthetically and functionally retained at the same location.

[0003] One example previously known tailgate mounting unit that permits pivoting of the tailgate use a torque rod and first and second hinge sets at spaced apart positions. However, while long torque rods extending through spaced hinge sets improve available torque and cycle life of the hinge, such extended length or rod constructions lack self containment of the hinge and require adjacent support structures. As a result, the hinge structures are not so easily assembled with numerous parts coupled about the torque rod.

[0004] Another known tailgate hinge design that employs lift assistance in the form of coiled or clock spring type torsion devices are expensive to construct and generate such problems such as cycle noise and poor cycle life, due to binding between the numerous coils of the torsion spring structure in the panel mounting assembly. Moreover, previously known self-contained hinges with torque rods and spring designs do not provide a sufficient length of wire in which torsion energy can be generated to displace opposite ends of the torsion rod and thus the leaf members of the hinge set, when the hinge parts are mounted to large or massive structures.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0005] The present invention overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a vehicle partitioning panel with a mounting assembly including a hinge with a torsion rod self-contained in the hinge sets. Preferably, each hinge set includes a separate torsion pin to avoid off axis moments along the length of the panel. In addition, separated hinge sets ease installation by mounting the hinge sets as preformed units.

[0006] The present invention also provides a method for forming torsion pin hinge set in which the torsion pin has an elongated leg that extends through aligned first and second bores in the first and second leaf parts, respectively, bending an end of the pin to a return bent position, and retracting the return bent portion into engagement with the leaf structure. The other end of the torsion pin is retained by engagement with the other leaf part. Preferably, the engagement is performed by a retainer formed as a return bent portion of a hinge leaf plate. The bent portion of the plate can be clamped against an end, preferably a bent end, of the torsion pin to minimize assembly structures and techniques during production.

[0007] As a result, the present invention provides a vehicle compartment partition for a vehicle body having a floor panel to be partitioned. A frame structure for the partition includes a mount for a hinge leaf, and the hinge leaf contains a portion with a bore adapted to be aligned to a bore in a second pivot portion on a second leaf adapted to be mounted to the floor panel. A torsion rod having an elongated leg extending through the aligned first and second pivot portions, includes ends that are retained with respect to one and the other of the leafs, respectively, to form an integral structure. The leafs of each hinge set are then readily mounted to the frame structure of the partition panel and the floor panel, respectively. Preferably, the ends of the torsion rod are bent to define an included angle of neutral torsion less than and intermediate to the upright and retracted positions of the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle compartment having a partition mounted in accordance with the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from a different direction and exhibiting a partition of FIG. 1 in a different operating position; and

[0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a hinge set shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring first to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle body 10 is shown comprising a body 12 defining an interior compartment 14 and a rear compartment 16 separated by bulkhead 18. The bulkhead 18 may be made of one or more structural panels, and in the preferred embodiment, includes a partition 20 carried by a mounting 22 that supports the panel 20 for pivoting displacement from an upright or latched position to a horizontal or retracted position as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the partition 20 and mount 22 may be employed for selective separation of other vehicle compartments in a body 12 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the mounting 22 comprises a pair of hinge sets 24. Each hinge set 24 includes a first hinge leaf 26 including a mount portion 36 dimensioned to mate with a frame structure 21 of the partition 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the mount portion 36 may include multiple attachment points, for example, the orthogonally aligned attachment flanges 37 and 39. An extended support portion 28 on the first leaf 26 carries a pivot portion 30 with a bore dimensioned to receive a pivot pin as will be described in greater detail below. Preferably, the pivot portion 30 is carried by an extended support portion 28 at a spaced position from the mount portion 36 preferably formed as a bent flange portion of a plate forming the first hinge leaf 26. Similarly, a second leaf 40 includes a mount portion 42 dimensioned for mating with a portion 44 of the floor panel 46. An extended support portion 48, also provided by a pair of flanges bent from the plate 45, carries a second pivot portion 50 also adapted to receive a pivot pin as described in greater detail below.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment, the pivot portion 30 of the first leaf 26 includes a bore that is aligned with a bore in the pivot portion 50 of the second leaf 40 to receive an elongated hinge pin. Preferably, the hinge pin is a one piece torsion rod dimensioned to be received in the aligned bores of pivot portions 30 and 50 respectively. Of course, modifications of the hinge pin are possible, such as a hollow hinge pin sleeves that receives a torsion rod. However, unlike previously known torsion pin hinges, the torsion rod is retained with respect to the hinge leafs to provide an integral structure for ease of assembly. Preferably, each hinge set includes a torsion rod 60 whose ends are retained with respect to alternate ones of the leaf parts to provide spring biasing between the leaf parts depending upon the positions of the leafs as will be discussed in greater detail below. Preferably, each pivot portion is formed by a flange bent from the plate of the bracket forming each leaf. An aperture in the flange that carries a bushing with an expanded collar to guide displacement of one leaf part with respect to the other leaf part.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment, the torsion rod 60 includes an elongated leg 62 inserted and received through the aligned pivot portions 30 and 50. Once the leg 62 has been extended through the aligned pivot portions 30 and 50, the first inserted end 64 of the torsion rod 60 is return bent, so that the end 64 may be engaged with respect to the support portion 28 of the hinge leaf. Preferably, the return bent portion is a simple bend, for example, an arc in a single radius, although multiple radiuses and bends may be provided without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, engagement of the end 64 comprises retraction of the first end 64 into an opening 66 in the support portion 28. Preferably, the opening 66 is embossed or otherwise reinforced as shown in FIG. 3 at 70 so that the first end 64 is locked to the support portion 28 as the leaf 26 is pivoted with respect to the second leaf 40.

[0016] A second end 80 is then retained with respect to the other leaf 40 of the hinge set. In the preferred embodiment, the second end 80 is bent outwardly from the axis of the elongated leg 62 and engaged with respect to the mount portion 42 of the second leaf. In the preferred embodiment, the retainer 78 for the end 80 includes a return bent portion 76 of the plate forming the second leaf 40 and its mount 42. The plate includes a raised shoulder 84 that supports the end 80 at the height of the aligned pivot portions 30 and 50 above the mount portion 42 of the second leaf 40 and a rolled flange 74 forms a retainer 86 entrapping the leg 82 at end 80 to retain the end 80 in a tight socket with respect to the second leaf 40. Preferably, each leaf pair 26 and 40 includes an integral torsion rod hinge pin, although a common torsion rod could be used in two or more aligned hinged sets 24. Nevertheless, the use of separate torsion rods 60 at each hinge set 24 reduces off axis moments that might otherwise effect alignment of the partition panel 20 within the bulkhead 18.

[0017] Preferably, each hinge set 24 may be wholly constructed before attachment to the partition 20 and before assembly of a partition 20 to the vehicle body 12. In the preferred embodiment, attachment openings 90 are formed in the mount portion 36 and in the mount portion 42 of the first and second leafs, respectively, adapted to receive fasteners such as rivets, bolts, welds or the like that can be used to retain the mount portions 36 and 42 with respect to the partition and the vehicle floor, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the partition frame 21 may include threaded apertures that receive threaded fasteners extending through the openings 90 in the mount portion 36. Similarly, weld nuts or the like may be mounted in the vehicle floor panel 46 for threadably receiving bolts that extend through the openings 90 in the mount portion 42 of the second leaf 40.

[0018] Preferably, the direction at which the first end 64 extends radially outwardly from the axis of the elongated leg 62 is angled with respect to the direction at which the leg 82 of end 80 extends from the elongated leg 62 of the rod 60 when the ends are in the retained position. The angle between the ends 64 and 80 in a plane orthogonal to the leg 62 generates a neutral position, preferably at an angle preferably intermediate the latched and retracted positions of the partition 20. Preferably, the torsion rod provides a neutral spring bias at position about 30° from the upright position of the partition 20 so that a slight spring force urges the partition 20 away from the upright position at which it is latched to the bulkhead 18 when the partition is unlatched. Of course, a common latch mechanism may be employed to lock the partition 20 in its upright position, its retracted position, or both, to resist the spring tension that tends to move the panel toward the neutral position. A greater angle of displacement preferably occurs between the neutral position of the spring and the retracted position of the partition 20. Accordingly, a greater spring force is generated in the torsion pin 60 to raise the partition 20 from its retracted position along the floor panel 46.

[0019] Having thus described the present invention, any modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle compartment partition for a vehicle body having a floor panel comprising: frame structure including a mount for a hinge leaf; at least one first hinge leaf including a mount portion dimensioned to mate with said frame structure mount, and an extended support portion, a pivot portion carried by said extended support portion at a spaced position from mount portion; at least one second leaf including a mount portion dimensioned for mating with a portion of the floor panel, and an extended support portion, a second pivot portion carried by said extended support portion for alignment with said first pivot portion; and a torsion rod having an elongated leg extending through aligned first and second pivot portions, said torsion rod having a first end retained against rotation with respect to one of said first and second leafs, and a second end return bent from an aligned longitudinal portion and retained with respect to a support portion of the other of said first and second leafs.
 2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot portions include a bore that receives said elongated leg solely.
 3. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said first end comprises a leg formed by a bend in the rod.
 4. The invention as described in claim 3 wherein said leg is retained in an opening in said one of said first and second leafs.
 5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said opening comprises an aperture in a support flange of said one leaf.
 6. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said one leaf includes a return bent portion forming said opening as a channel.
 7. The invention as described in claim 6 wherein said return bent portion is rolled.
 8. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said second end is received in an opening in said support portion.
 9. The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said first end comprises a leg formed by a bend in the rod, and said leg is clamped to said one leaf.
 10. A method for assembling a vehicle body panel hinge having a first leaf with a first pivot portion and a second leaf with a second pivot portion comprising: aligning said first and second pivot portions along a common axis; inserting a torsion rod into said aligned first and second pivot portions; bending a first end of said torsion rod to a return bent position; engaging said first end into fixed engagement with one of said leafs; and retaining a second end of said torsion rod in a fixed engagement with the other of said first and second leafs.
 11. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said retaining step comprises clamping said second end to said other leaf.
 12. The invention as described in claim 11 wherein said clamping step comprises return bending a portion of said other leaf.
 13. The invention as described in claim 10 and further comprising bending said torsion rod to form a leg at said second end.
 14. The invention as described in claim 13 wherein said bending to form a leg at said second end precedes said inserting.
 15. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said bending a first end of said torsion rod precedes said inserting.
 16. The invention as described in claim 15 wherein said engaging step includes a portion of said inserting step.
 17. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said bending step follows said inserting step and said engaging step comprises retracting said first end into an opening in said first leaf. 